Alongside Apex Legends' 24.1 midseason update comes major updates to the Skirmisher class and further refinements to Alter in a mini-rework, among other updates. More than a typical Legend update, but less than reworks given to Lifeline and Revenant, Alter is seeing her kit refreshed with more utility, more playmaking options, and new upgrades.
At a glance, Alter's Void Passage tactical now has two charges, increased depth, and reduced cooldown, while her Void Nexus ultimate is now reusable with each player having their own cooldowns. These changes are meant to encourage Alter players to experiment more, to allow Alter to make more plays, and to give her kit some much-needed utility. Ahead of this Apex Legends update, The Best War Games spoke with lead legend designer Devan McGuire about Alter's mini-rework.
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In many ways, Alter's mini-rework is about giving players more options. They don't have to be as conservative with Alter's abilities, as it's not the end of the world if one use goes wrong, but they are further able to express themselves and the way they choose to play Alter. The upgrades can emphasize the more Recon-style or Support-style gameplay of her Apex Legends kit, while ensuring that she can fulfill her role as a Skirmisher. This utility is important, and when asked why it was important that Alter's rework included more utility, McGuire explained,
"You can make decisions, plays, and occupy multiple spots on the map at the same time, and it opens up really good flanking opportunities or aggressive pushes that you can then retreat from. A lot of these kinds of plays and openings we've seen, that we've always imagined Alter having, are much more possible thanks to the versatility in her new kit."
Not to mention, Alter's mini-rework accomplishes all this while setting her up to compete with other Skirmisher characters in Apex Legends, like Horizon and Pathfinder. The ability to get high ground with Alter was a bit convoluted in comparison and now fits a little better into her overall kit. As a whole, it seems Alter is going to be the Skirmisher to watch as the current season of Apex Legends continues.
Alter's Updated Abilities in Apex Legends
Void Passage - Tactical
- Now has two charges
- Maximum portal depth increased to 30m (was 20m)
- Cooldown reduced to 20s (was 30s, Tac Cooldown+ upgrade integrated into base kit)
- Health Bars are shown on enemies after going through your own Void Passage (Void Vision upgrade integrated into base kit)
-
The maximum length of Void Siphon (interactable rope with tactical portals) created from ceilings increased to 45m (was 30m)
- Also now created when placing unreachable portals on walls with a maximum length of 20m
- The placement preview now shows where a Void Siphon will be created, if there will be one
- Void Passage briefly highlights enemies on the other side immediately after placement
Void Nexus - Ultimate
- Now reusable with each player having their own 30s cooldown
- Two can be active in the world at the same time (integrated part of Multidimensional upgrade into base kit)
- Interact directly with a Void Nexus to 'summon' your knocked allies, and summoned allies can move and use their knockdown shield
- Ult is otherwise not interactable from a short distance, making it easier to revive a squadmate without accidentally triggering the Void Nexus
Gift From the Rift - Passive
- Players can now grab Banners when using passive on a squadmate’s Death Box
Alter Upgrades
-
Upgrades: Level 2
- Ringmaster: removed
- Void Vision: removed
- NEW “Friends”: gain all support perks (access Support Bins, faster revives with health regen, gain MRB with Banners (works with Gift from the Rift))
- NEW Eye to Another World: gain all Recon Perks (access Recon Beacons, gain threat vision when ADSing)
-
Upgrades: Level 3
- Multidimensional: removed
- Tactical Cooldown+: removed
- NEW Void Breacher: using a friendly Void Passage grants move speed and improved reloads
- NEW Staring into the Void: Void Passage scan duration +15s for Alter (lasts duration of the Void Passage)
- Note: scan requires line of sight to enemy from the portal exit and to the portal entrance for Alter
Overall, it's pretty clear why Respawn has dubbed these changes to Alter's abilities as a "mini-rework." The increased usage, the various new touch-ups, and everything coming in this update should give players plenty of reasons to check her out, as well as give Alter mains plenty of reasons to rejoice.
Apex Legends
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
- Released
- February 4, 2019
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Source on console/PC, Unreal Engine 4 on mobile
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, Switch & Xbox One
WHERE TO PLAY
Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play* Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.
Master an ever-growing roster of diverse legends, deep tactical squad play, and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.
This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter
